Nevada consultant subpoenaed in Ensign ethics investigation

A spokesman for a U.S. Senate candidate in Connecticut says Nevada political consultant Mike Slanker is among those who received a subpoena from the Senate Ethics Committee, which is investigating allegations of wrongdoing against Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev.

Slanker was a friend of Ensign and chief political adviser when Ensign was running the Republican National Senatorial Committee.

Ensign lost his leadership job and damaged his friendship with Slanker as a result of an extramarital affair with Cindy Hampton, a former Ensign employee. The ethics committee is involved because former Ensign employee Doug Hampton, Cindy's husband, alleges that as Ensign attempted to manage fallout of the affair he aided Doug Hampton in the violation of lobbying restrictions.

Ed Patru, spokesman for the campaign of candidate Linda McMahon, wife of pro wrestling promoter Vince McMahon, made the statement about Slanker receiving a subpoena to the Hartford Courant in Connecticut.

Slanker is a consultant to the McMahon campaign. He did not respond to a request for comment from the Review-Journal.

Hampton left Ensign's employ as administrative assistant at the end of April 2008. He has alleged that Ensign arranged for him to get work as a lobbyist for several Nevada firms, and helped set up a meeting with Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, in violation of a federal law that requires a one-year "cooling off" period before top Senate aides can lobby.

Ensign has admitted a nine-month affair with Cindy Hampton, from December 2007 to August 2008. Otherwise, he has denied any unethical or illegal behavior.

The Senate Ethics Committee's investigation could result in committee action ranging from outright dismissal of the matter to a reprimand or a recommendation that the full Senate consider censure or expulsion.

Among Hampton's accusations is that Ensign tried to buy his silence and that of his wife through a $96,000 payment from the senator's parents as the couple was leaving Ensign's employ. The payment was structured for tax purposes and characterized by Ensign's attorney as a gift. Hampton said he has evidence that it was a severance payment, which would have needed to be reported to the Federal Election Commission.

Contact reporter Benjamin Spillman at bspillman@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3861.